EP1214137B1 - Appareil de dessalement actionne par la pression de l'eau de mer et procede comportant un retour de saumure actionne par gravite - Google Patents

Appareil de dessalement actionne par la pression de l'eau de mer et procede comportant un retour de saumure actionne par gravite Download PDF

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EP1214137B1
EP1214137B1 EP99961580A EP99961580A EP1214137B1 EP 1214137 B1 EP1214137 B1 EP 1214137B1 EP 99961580 A EP99961580 A EP 99961580A EP 99961580 A EP99961580 A EP 99961580A EP 1214137 B1 EP1214137 B1 EP 1214137B1
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Prior art keywords
water
brine
enclosure
salt
freshwater
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German (de)
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EP1214137A4 (fr
EP1214137A1 (fr
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Kenneth R. Bosley
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    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02FTREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F1/00Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
    • C02F1/44Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by dialysis, osmosis or reverse osmosis
    • C02F1/441Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by dialysis, osmosis or reverse osmosis by reverse osmosis
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01DSEPARATION
    • B01D61/00Processes of separation using semi-permeable membranes, e.g. dialysis, osmosis or ultrafiltration; Apparatus, accessories or auxiliary operations specially adapted therefor
    • B01D61/02Reverse osmosis; Hyperfiltration ; Nanofiltration
    • B01D61/10Accessories; Auxiliary operations
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01DSEPARATION
    • B01D65/00Accessories or auxiliary operations, in general, for separation processes or apparatus using semi-permeable membranes
    • B01D65/08Prevention of membrane fouling or of concentration polarisation
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01DSEPARATION
    • B01D2321/00Details relating to membrane cleaning, regeneration, sterilization or to the prevention of fouling
    • B01D2321/02Forward flushing
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01DSEPARATION
    • B01D2321/00Details relating to membrane cleaning, regeneration, sterilization or to the prevention of fouling
    • B01D2321/20By influencing the flow
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02FTREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F2103/00Nature of the water, waste water, sewage or sludge to be treated
    • C02F2103/08Seawater, e.g. for desalination
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02ATECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02A20/00Water conservation; Efficient water supply; Efficient water use
    • Y02A20/124Water desalination
    • Y02A20/131Reverse-osmosis

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a reverse osmosis method of removing the salt from water in the ocean or inland bodies of salt water, using the pressure of the seawater itself, and the force of gravity.
  • U.S. Patent No. 4,335,576, issued on June 22, 1982, to Harold H. Hopfe discloses a device for producing freshwater from seawater which floats on the surface of the sea. It derives the energy for desalinization from the motion of the waves on the surface of the water. Movement of the water on the surface causes reaction plates to move, and the movement is ultimately transmitted to pistons that move in cylinders to exert pressure on seawater to force reverse osmosis.
  • U.S. Patent No. 4,452,969 issued on June 5, 1984, to Fernand Lopez, discloses a reverse osmosis apparatus for producing freshwater from seawater, which is designed to be temporarily submerged, as on a fishing line.
  • U.S. Patent No. 4,770,775, issued on September 13, 1988, to Fernand Lopez discloses another apparatus for the production of freshwater from seawater, which is also designed to be temporarily submerged, and has a chamber that expands as freshwater is produced. Both of these apparatuses use the pressure of the seawater itself to force reverse osmosis.
  • U.S. Patent No. 5,229,005 issued on July 20, 1993, to Yu-Si Fok and Sushil K. Gupta, discloses a process for the desalinization of seawater, by lowering reverse osmosis devices into the ocean by means of lines attached to pulleys, and raising them again by the same means to remove the freshwater produced.
  • the pressure of the seawater itself is used to force reverse osmosis of the seawater across a membrane to produce freshwater.
  • U.S. Patent No. 5,366,635 issued on November 22, 1994, to Larry O. Watkins, discloses a desalinization apparatus and means in which a separator is placed on the sea floor, and the pressure at the sea floor is used to force seawater through a membrane to form freshwater by reverse osmosis, which is then pumped out.
  • British Patent No. 2,068,774 published on August 19, 1981, to Jose Luis Ramo Mesple, discloses an apparatus for desalinating water by reverse osmosis in cells located deep underground, utilizing the pressure resulting from the water being deep underground.
  • JP-55155788-A discloses an apparatus for desalinating water comprising a channel with a top opening, RODs connected by their permeate side to the channel and a permeate collection tank with a permeate pump at the bottom of the channel.
  • the document US-4189379 discloses an apparatus for bringing water containing nutrients from the deep sea to the ocean surface by partially e.g. by electro-dialysis desalinating it and feeding said partially desalinated water to a channel having an open top. The water rises through the channel due to its lower density.
  • the document US-3456802-A discloses desalination apparatus with RODs submerged under the surface of a water body and being connected on their retentate side to a retentate collection systems with discharge pumps and on the permeate side to a permeate collection system comprising a permeate pump.
  • Levenspiel et al. (The Osmotic Pump, SCIENCE 183/4121/18-01-1974,157-160) describe the principle of the osmotic pump comprising a channel having an open top and an opening at the bottom closed by a semipermeable membrane.
  • a semipermeable membrane When the apparatus is immersed in the ocean, water permeates through the membrane due to hydrostatic pressure and rises in the channel above the ocean level due to its lower density.
  • the present invention is distinguishable from the prior art cited, in that only it takes advantage of the fact that the concentrated brine produced as a by-product of reverse osmosis desalinization is heavier than seawater to reduce the energy consumed in desalinization. None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, will be seen to describe the present invention as claimed.
  • the present invention is an apparatus and method of removing salt from seawater to produce potable freshwater.
  • a large metal cylinder with open top and bottom ends, is anchored to the floor of the ocean (or inland sea) offshore.
  • Several pressure hulls are attached to the side of the cylinder. The interior of each pressure hull is maintained at about one atmosphere of pressure, but the hulls are submerged at a depth at which the ambient water pressure is several atmospheres.
  • RODs reverse osmosis devices
  • Check valves allow sea water to pass from outside the hulls into the RODs.
  • the pumps for the brine can be turned off, as gravity will cause it to flow down from the pressure hulls to the surface of the brine in the cylinder. This will reduce the energy needed to desalinate seawater. (It will still be necessary to pump out the freshwater.)
  • It is a fourth object of the invention is to provide a means for reducing the cost of desalinizing seawater by centralizing maintenance facilities, as the pressure hulls can be removed and taken to a central facility for maintenance, rather than the on-site maintenance required by conventional shore-based desalinization plants.
  • Conventional onshore desalinization facilities pump their brine out to sea through a bottom-laid pipeline, which releases the brine on or near the ocean floor. Releasing the brine near the ocean floor increases the area affected by the brine's toxicity.
  • Existing methods to reduce the toxic effects add to the cost of desalinization through greater plant infrastructural requirements or reduced process efficiency.
  • the present invention allows an offshore desalinization facility to release its brine into mid-water, where mixing with the ocean current is more efficient, with fewer effects upon bottom-dwelling flora and fauna. Because the facility can be located offshore, ocean currents and tidal action will thoroughly mix the brine back into the surrounding seawater, and the overall impact of increased salinity from the brine release could be infinitesimal as little as two or three kilometers down-current.
  • the present invention is an apparatus and method of removing salt from seawater to produce potable fresh water. It may be used in either the oceans or in inland bodies of salt water.
  • Fig. 1 is a schematic environmental front elevational view of the first preferred embodiment of the invention.
  • a large metal cylinder 10 with an open top end 12 and an bottom opening 14 , rests on platform 13 which is anchored to the floor A of the ocean B (or inland sea) offshore.
  • a tube or channel of a different shape and/or with a plurality of top openings and/or a plurality of bottom openings may be used.
  • the apparatus can be supported by flotation devices, or by cables attached to ships, rather than resting on the sea floor.
  • Bottom pressure hulls 15 are removably attached to the side of the cylinder, just above the equilibrium level C of brine in the cylinder. When greater production capacity is needed, upper pressure hulls 16 are added.
  • Fig. 2 is a schematic environmental front elevational view of the second preferred embodiment of the invention, which is the same as the first preferred embodiment, except that the bottom of the cylinder rests directly on the sea floor.
  • Fig. 3 is a schematic environmental front elevational view of the third preferred embodiment of the invention, which is the same as the second preferred embodiment, except that brine pipe 35 projects over a cliff E in the sea floor.
  • This embodiment may be used in areas such as the Red Sea where the submarine topography makes it possible. Sending the brine over a submarine cliff will make possible more efficient mixing of the brine with the sea water.
  • Fig. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of one of the pressure hulls of the first type that may be used in any of the preferred embodiments of the invention.
  • the fresh water enclosure 18 in the interior of each pressure hull is maintained at a pressure below that of the ambient seawater, preferably at one atmosphere of pressure, but the hulls are preferably submerged at a depth at which the ambient water pressure is several atmospheres.
  • Within each pressure hull there are several reverse osmosis devices 20 ("RODs"), each having a selectively permeable membrane 22 surrounding a brine enclosure 24 .
  • RODs reverse osmosis devices 20
  • the membrane allows water molecules, but not sodium and chlorine ions, to pass through.
  • the pressure hulls have an external skin 26 which is impermeable to water.
  • Seawater conduits 28 having check valves 30 , pass through the external skin and the membranes, to allow seawater to pass from outside the hulls into the RODs.
  • the check valves enhance the efficiency of the process, by preventing brine from returning directly to the surrounding seawater by the same route.
  • the space between the external skin and the other contents of the pressure hulls forms the fresh water enclosure 18 . Due to the pressure difference, water molecules pass through the membranes by reverse osmosis, and desalinated water is pumped out of the pressure hulls through the freshwater conduit 32 and (referring back to Fig.
  • Freshwater pumps may be located in the storage facility, the pipeline, the cylinder, and/or elsewhere. The pumping out of the freshwater maintains the pressure difference across the membrane, so that reverse osmosis can continue. The desalinated water may undergo further purification at a local water treatment plant.
  • Fig. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of one of the pressure hulls of the second type that may be used in any of the preferred embodiments of the invention. It differs from the first type in having a dry interior 42 , which is kept dry by an air vent 44 to the atmosphere above the surface D through which any moisture evaporates.
  • the RODs are enclosed by water proof surfaces 46 .
  • Freshwater is drained from the RODs by freshwater pipes 48 which are connected to the fresh water conduit 32 .
  • the seawater remaining on the other side of the membranes (“brine”), which has a greatly increased concentration of salt due to water passing through the membranes, is pumped into the cylinder by the brine pumps 38 through the brine conduits 40 (see Fig. 4).
  • At least one of the brine pumps is preferably located in each pressure hull, as shown, but other locations are possible.
  • the pumping out of the brine maintains a pressure difference across the seawater conduits, causing seawater to continue to flow into the reverse osmosis devices.
  • the level of the brine C in the cylinder will eventually reach equilibrium at an elevation below the sea level D outside the cylinder (see Fig. 1), due to the greater weight of the brine compared to unconcentrated seawater.
  • the pumps for the brine can be turned off, as gravity will cause it to flow down from the hulls to the surface of the brine in the cylinder. This will reduce the energy needed to desalinate seawater. (It will still be necessary to pump out the freshwater.)
  • the lower pressure hulls 15 should be attached to the cylinder first, as the pressure difference will be greatest just above the brine level C . (although the pressure difference would be greater at lower depths, gravity will not cause brine to flow out of the pressure hulls if they are below the brine's surface.)
  • the upper hulls 16 should be added, desalinization will not be as efficient in them, as the pressure difference will be lower.
  • the earth's gravity will cause the brine in the tube to flow out of the bottom opening until the weight of the brine in the tube equals the weight of an equivalent column of water in the sea outside the tube.
  • the weight of the brine in the tube will continue to be heavier than that an equivalent column of seawater outside, and brine will continue to flow out. If there were no currents in the sea, the salinity of the sea in the immediate area around the tube could eventually rise to almost the degree of salinity in the tube (though not to complete equality, due to diffusion of salt through the seawater).
  • the present invention derives its energy savings, not out of nothing, as would a perpetual motion machine, but from the force of the earth's gravity, from ocean currents and interlayer mixing that are driven by electromagnetic radiation produced by nuclear reactions in the sun, and from diffusion made possible by random movements of molecules and ions in the seawater that are also driven by heat from the sun.
  • the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.
  • the method of the invention is primarily intended as a means for desalinating seawater, it can also be used to remove a purified solvent from any solution, where a solution with a higher concentration of solute is denser than a solution with a lower concentration of solute.
  • An apparatus similar to the preferred embodiment, but smaller in size, may be useful in chemistry laboratories and chemical processing plants.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Nanotechnology (AREA)
  • Hydrology & Water Resources (AREA)
  • Separation Using Semi-Permeable Membranes (AREA)
  • Physical Water Treatments (AREA)
  • Treating Waste Gases (AREA)
  • Perforating, Stamping-Out Or Severing By Means Other Than Cutting (AREA)
  • Special Spraying Apparatus (AREA)
  • Jet Pumps And Other Pumps (AREA)

Claims (20)

  1. Appareil pour dessaler l'eau de mer et les étendues d'eau salée continentales, pouvant être introduit dans ladite étendue d'eau salée ou d'eau de mer de sorte que l'appareil comprend :
    un canal (10) comportant au moins une ouverture supérieure (12) extensible au-dessus d'une surface supérieure de ladite étendue d'eau salée ou d'eau de mer, et au moins une ouverture inférieure (14) positionnable en dessous de la surface de ladite étendue d'eau salée ou d'eau de mer.
    au moins une coque pressurisée (15, 16) retenue sur ledit canal et entourant au moins un dispositif à osmose inverse (20) comprenant au moins une enceinte renfermant la saumure (24) et au moins une membrane (22) à travers laquelle les molécules d'eau peuvent s'écouler mais à travers laquelle les ions de sodium et de chlore ne peuvent pas s'écouler ;
    au moins une conduite d'eau salée (28) comportant au moins un clapet anti-retour (30), ladite conduite d'eau salée passant à travers la coque pressurisée et ladite au moins une membrane ;
    au moins une conduite de saumure (40) entre ladite au moins une enceinte renfermant la saumure et ledit canal, ladite conduite de saumure étant connectée à au moins une pompe à saumure (38) pour déplacer la saumure d'à partir au moins une desdites enceintes renfermant la saumure vers ledit canal ; et
    au moins une enceinte renfermant l'eau douce (18), à l'intérieure de laquelle l'eau qui a été dessalée en passant à travers au moins une desdites membranes peut être recueillie et séparée de l'eau salée, l'enceinte renfermant l'eau douce étant connectée à une pompe à eau douce pour enlever l'eau dessalée à partir de l'enceinte renfermant l'eau douce, dans laquelle au moins une membrane et au moins une enceinte renfermant l'eau douce sont positionnables de façon suffisamment éloignée en dessous de la surface de ladite étendue d'eau salée ou d'eau de mer qu'il existe une différence de pression suffisante entre les deux côtés de la membrane pour que l'eau soit dessalée par osmose inverse et soit recueillie dans l'enceinte renfermant l'eau douce et ladite au moins une ouverture inférieure dudit canal est positionnable en dessous d'au moins une desdites enceintes renfermant la saumure et d'au moins une desdites conduites de saumure.
  2. Appareil selon la revendication 1, dans lequel au moins une desdites membranes entoure une desdites enceintes renfermant la saumure de telle sorte que l'eau qui n'est pas passée à travers ladite au moins une membrane, et a une concentration accrue de sel, peut être recueillie à partir de ladite enceinte renfermant la saumure et être séparée de l'eau qui a une concentration inférieure de sel.
  3. Appareil selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans lequel
       au moins une desdites enceintes renfermant la saumure et au moins un desdites conduites de saumure sont positionnables au-dessus d'un niveau auquel l'eau qui a une concentration accrue de sel atteindra l'équilibre dans le canal.
  4. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications 2 et 3, dans lequel chaque coque pressurisée possède seulement une enceinte renfermant l'eau douce, qui est formée par le revêtement externe, et occupe l'espace entre le revêtement externe et les dispositifs à osmose inverse, les conduites internes de saumure, et la pompe à saumure, avec une conduite d'eau douce passant à travers le revêtement externe à travers lequel l'eau dessalée peut être pompée.
  5. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications 2 et 3, dans lequel chaque dispositif à osmose inverse est entouré d'une surface étanche à l'eau (46) et est connecté par une canalisation d'eau douce (48) à une conduite d'eau douce (32) passant à travers le revêtement externe à travers lequel l'eau dessalée peut être pompée.
  6. Appareil selon la revendication 5, dans lequel l'intérieur (42) de chaque coque pressurisée est connecté à un évent (44).
  7. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le canal possède seulement une ouverture supérieure et seulement une ouverture inférieure.
  8. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel chaque coque pressurisée a seulement une pompe à saumure.
  9. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, pouvant être introduit dans ladite étendue d'eau salée ou d'eau de mer d'une façon au moyen de laquelle la pompe à eau douce est opérationnelle pour maintenir la pression d'eau à l'intérieur de la au moins une enceinte renfermant l'eau douce plus basse que la pression d'eau à l'extérieur des coques pressurisées.
  10. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, pouvant être introduit dans ladite étendue d'eau salée ou d'eau de mer d'une façon au moyen de laquelle la pompe à eau douce est opérationnelle pour maintenir la pression de l'eau à l'intérieur de la au moins une enceinte renfermant l'eau douce des coques pressurisées équivalente à la pression à la surface de l'étendue d'eau salée ou d'eau de mer.
  11. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel les coques pressurisées sont retenues sur le canal de façon à pouvoir être démontées, moyen par lequel elles peuvent être temporairement enlevées pour raison de maintenance.
  12. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le canal est cylindrique.
  13. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel la pompe à eau douce est opérationnelle pour pomper l'eau dessalée vers une installation de traitement des eaux pour une purification supplémentaire.
  14. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 13, dans lequel l'appareil est positionné, lors de son utilisation, dans un courant de façon à limiter les effets sur l'environnement de la décharge de la saumure.
  15. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 14, dans lequel le canal possède une extrémité inférieure adaptée pour reposer sur le fond de l'étendue d'eau salée ou d'eau de mer.
  16. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 15, dans lequel l'appareil a un moyen approprié pour maintenir l'appareil par flottation.
  17. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 16, dans lequel l'appareil est approprié pour être supporté sur une plate-forme offshore.
  18. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 17, dans lequel l'appareil peut être introduit dans ladite étendue d'eau salée ou d'eau de mer adjacente à une soudaine chute de l'élévation du fond de ladite étendue d'eau salée ou d'eau de mer, et comprend un moyen pour amener la saumure sur la chute soudaine de l'élévation.
  19. Procédé pour dessaler l'eau de mer, comprenant les étapes consistant à :
    permettre à l'eau de mer de s'écouler à travers un clapet anti-retour dans une enceinte renfermant la saumure qui est séparée d'une enceinte renfermant l'eau douce par une membrane à travers laquelle les molécules d'eau, mais non les ions de sodium et de chlore, peuvent s'écouler ;
    effectuer l'osmose inverse de l'eau de mer, en maintenant une pression différentielle entre les deux côtés de la membrane, en pompant l'eau dessalée de l'enceinte renfermant l'eau douce ;
    provoquer l'écoulement de l'eau de mer en continu dans l'enceinte renfermant la saumure, en maintenant une pression différentielle entre les deux côtés du clapet anti-retour, en pompant l'eau qui a une concentration accrue de sel de l'enceinte renfermant la saumure dans un canal avec une ouverture bien au-dessus de la surface de la mer, et une ouverture bien en dessous de la surface de la mer et en dessous de l'enceinte renfermant la saumure ; et
    permettre au niveau de la surface de l'eau qui a une concentration grandissante de sel d'atteindre l'équilibre dans le canal en dessous de la surface de la mer et en dessous de l'enceinte renfermant la saumure, et ensuite interrompre le pompage de l'eau de l'enceinte renfermant la saumure, et permettre à l'eau de s'écouler hors de l'enceinte renfermant la saumure dans le canal sous l'effet de la force de gravité.
  20. Procédé pour séparer un solvant purifié d'une solution, comprenant les étapes consistant à :
    permettre à une solution de s'écouler à travers un clapet anti-retour dans une première enceinte qui est séparée d'une seconde enceinte par une membrane à travers laquelle un solvant, mais non un soluté, peut s'écouler ;
    effectuer l'osmose inverse de la solution, en maintenant une pression différentielle entre les deux côtés de la membrane, en pompant le solvant purifié à partir de la seconde enceinte ;
    provoquer l'écoulement de la solution en continu dans la première enceinte, en maintenant une pression différentielle entre les deux côtés du clapet anti-retour, en pompant la solution qui a une concentration accrue de soluté de la première enceinte dans un canal avec une ouverture bien en dessus de la surface de la solution, et une ouverture bien en dessous de la surface de la solution et en dessous de la première enceinte ; et
    permettre au niveau de la surface de la solution qui a une concentration accrue de soluté d'atteindre l'équilibre dans le canal en dessous de la surface de la solution et en dessous de la première enceinte, et ensuite interrompre le pompage de la solution hors de la première enceinte, et permettre à la solution de s'écouler hors de la première enceinte dans le canal sous l'effet de la force de gravité.
EP99961580A 1999-04-07 1999-11-30 Appareil de dessalement actionne par la pression de l'eau de mer et procede comportant un retour de saumure actionne par gravite Expired - Lifetime EP1214137B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US287658 1994-08-09
US28765899A 1999-04-07 1999-04-07
PCT/US1999/026025 WO2000059612A1 (fr) 1999-04-07 1999-11-30 Appareil de dessalement actionne par la pression de l'eau de mer et procede comportant un retour de saumure actionne par gravite

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EP1214137A1 EP1214137A1 (fr) 2002-06-19
EP1214137A4 EP1214137A4 (fr) 2003-06-18
EP1214137B1 true EP1214137B1 (fr) 2005-03-23

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US (3) US6348148B1 (fr)
EP (1) EP1214137B1 (fr)
AT (1) ATE291482T1 (fr)
AU (1) AU1812800A (fr)
DE (1) DE69924411T2 (fr)
WO (1) WO2000059612A1 (fr)

Cited By (4)

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DE69924411D1 (de) 2005-04-28
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US20020125190A1 (en) 2002-09-12
ATE291482T1 (de) 2005-04-15
US6800201B2 (en) 2004-10-05
US6656352B2 (en) 2003-12-02
US6348148B1 (en) 2002-02-19
US20040108272A1 (en) 2004-06-10
EP1214137A1 (fr) 2002-06-19
AU1812800A (en) 2000-10-23
WO2000059612A1 (fr) 2000-10-12

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